Tuesday, October 28, 2008

I really hope I get a chance to see "Synecdoche New York" before I leave but it seems unlikely. Most American reviewers are complaining about how glum and joyless it is (further adding to my excitement!). I don't know, it is like asking Woody Allen to keep doing the same "early funny ones" (as one of the characters says in his "Stardust Memories"). Kaufman's earlier films as screenwriter were funny and quirky but one couldn't but notice a deep seriousness of intent and engagement with Life, something very rare in mainstream Hollywood. Reading the reviews, even the critical ones, it seems he has only gone one step further. Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Being John Malkovich were already five out of five stars masterpieces.

I liked it a lot - though I did see it sitting in the very first row which distorted things a bit too much. I liked that it's referential without naming the sources - you get the sense that Kaufman thinks enough of his audience not to point out that "Autumn Song" is by Rilke, for example. I do need to go re-read Kafka . . . a lot of it felt like it was echoing his stories, but I couldn't remember which off the top of my head. Probably worth re-seeing?

There is nice review in the blog of Bright Lights Film Journal. (Brightlightsafterdark). Unfortunately I cannot access the link right now. I particularly liked the descriptions of Kaufmann: Ingmar Bergman with laughs, and Woody Allen filtered through Alain Resnais :)

madhuri: just saw the review... nice comparison, makes sense. What I like about him (those three films) is that he is both playful and quirky and also serious and sincere and often surprisingly moving as well.

mrittika: think, you meant to comment on previous post about atheism. Nietzsche is a good example...Disbelief in God doesn't mean "no worries have fun", rather it means taking more responsilibities for your actions and strive for self-realization beyong all norms. the popular atheism doesn't really acknowledge this aspect.